Display device for cigar-boxes.



No. 874,294. r PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907. W. P, BOWERS.

DISPLAY DEVICE POR CIGAR BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1907.

THE "cums PETERS 60., WASHINGTON, o. c.

WILDER'P. BOWERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DISPLAY DEVICE FOR CIGAR-BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1907.

Application filed May 14:, 1907. Serial No. 373,612.

To all whom it may concern:

outer face of the rear wall of the box at its Be it known that I, l/VILDER P. BOWERS, a I free end. To guard against this and render citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display Devices for Cigar- Boxes and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a novel construction in a device adapted for use particularly on cigar boxes to support the cover in its open position to display the contents, the price of the contained cigars being displayed on said device in a neat and prominent manner and which is further adapted for use as a cigar box opener, and consists in the features of construction hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigar box to which a device constructed in accordance with my invention'is applied showing the position in which the cover usu ally is held thereby and the price of contents is displayed. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of my device on the line 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same.

My said device comprises a rectangular plate A provided on one edge with a flange B which at its free end is provided with a flange C disposed parallel with said plate A and which extends below the lower end of the latter and said flange B. The cigar box cover is adapted to be received and clamped between said flange C and plate A and fits snugly therein. In order to allow for slight discrepancies in the thickness of cigar box covers, and further to guard against slipping of the plate A when the device is mounted thereon, the said flange C is provided between its ends with a projection D extending toward said plate A and which is formed by indenting the metal on the outer face of said flange as at E.

It is customary for cigar dealers to remove the boxes of cigars from the case by grasping the free end of the cover and thereby bringing considerable strain on the latter, particularly when the box is filled with cigars. This strain is imparted to the cover supporting device and tends to bend the extended porsaid flange longitudinally stifl, I bend the free edge of the same outwardly at an angle as at G and similarly bend the lower free end thereof, said bent portions or flanges serving to greatly stiffen said flange C throughout its length and enables the same to readily bear the strains to which it is normally subjected.

' It will be particularly noted that the free edge of the flange Gr meets the free end of the bent portion of the extension F, both said free edges being disposed in a common plane. This is very important and constitutes an essential feature of my invention, as the strain on the flange C and extension F due to lifting the box by grasping the cover is solely a compression strain and is in no way lateral.

The relative angular disposition of the flanges C and G prevents buckling and bendingv or distortion of the device by the average strains imparted thereto.

The lower free end of the extended portion F of said flange C is provided with a V-shaped recess H which may be used for withdrawing the small brad by means of which the free end of the cover is nailed to the front wall of the box or a brad may be driven into the rear wall of the box so that its head engages the said free end of said extended portion on either side of said recess and thus prevent the cover from closing. The said extended portion F of said flange C may also be employed as a box opener in the usual manner, the formation thereof as above described rendering the same sufliciently stiff for this purpose.

The front face of the plate A has litho- 1 graphed or otherwise impressed thereon the prices of the cigars contained in the box to which it is applied, as for example, is indicated in Fig. 1.

Attention is directed to the fact that the grain of the cover is longitudinally of the box so that the said projection D readily indents the wood when inserted on the cover and obtains a very flrm hold such as will entirely prevent slipping of the device. By reason of the deflection of flange C as at G the device canbe easily removed from the cover.

I claim as my invention:

1. A display device for cigar boxes, comprising a U-shaped plate adapted to receive and engage one side edgeof the box cover, an extension at one end of one flange of said tion F of the flange C whichbears against the l plate adapted to bear at its free end portion against the rear wall of the box, the free edge of said flange and said extension and the free end of the latter being distorted outwardly to form reinforcing flanges disposed at their 5 free ends in a common plane parallel with the plane of said flange, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A display device for cigar boxes, comprising a U-shaped plate adapted to receive and engage one side edge of the box cover, an extension at one end of one flange of said plate adapted to bear at its free end portion against the rear wall of the box, the free edge of said flange and said extension and the free 15 end of the latter being distorted outwardly to form reinforcing flanges disposed at their free ends in a common plane parallelwith the plane of said flange, and a projection on the inner face of said flange between the ends thereof adapted to bite into the cover to hold said plate against movement relatively thereto, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my IIQSSBS.

WILDER P BOWERS. WVitnesses:

RUDOLPH WM. LoTz, IRVING CowLEs.

name in the presence of two subscribing wit- 25 

